Pressure to take kids to florida.?

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ditzychik508

I worked at WDW for 2years and love everything about it. But I agree with you, my first time at Disney my mom brought me for my fifth birthday, not too young not too old, I still remember it too. It was a perfect age where we were both able to have fun (I was an only child and she a single parent so it was easier). My brother though was three when I started working at Disney, so I decided to bring him in one day when i was off, and it was miserable. I couldn't do anything and enjoy because he was too young and little for it all. Yes, he saw the parades and shows, but it wasn't enjoyable. Once he got older I took him back and we both enjoyed it much more (that year helps), he was still too young/little for a few things but it was definitely a way more "Magical" time. I know that I don't plan on taking my child to any theme parks until they are at least five where I could enjoy myself as well.
Good Luck in your choice, but I wouldn't bother wasting money now, wait a few more years!!! Hope this helps!

GreatNeck

Exactly, pressure, so much advertising, makes People(adults/kids) believe this is the ultimate experience. Live in Fla, 2hrs away, the stress, traffic, lines , expense, as Adults. So imagine Parents emotions, when children want it now, does not work that way. Waiting to see a show, ride, no drinks pass a certain point, or bathrooms. If your child does not meet a certain, can't go on ride, explain that one. So, make sure your Child is mature enough to understand the down side. Great place to go, love it myself, not a place for very young children.

amyb

definetly wait.... we went when my kids were 3 and 5
they didn't remeber the beach or anything.. my 5 year old did a little but not much.. we took them back this year at age 11 and 9
they had a ball and are still talking about it
wait.......

doyalikethatdaddy

i took four kids in march. my youngest is three- she turned three the month before we went. every single day she asks me if we can go back to Disney world. she talks about it all the time. when we got home i made her a photo album just for her and put pictures in it of her on rides and with characters. she can tell you about each picture and knows all the character names. of course she was too short to go on alot of the rides but she did have plenty to do. magic kingdom had plenty for her to do. Each park does have things specifically for younger kids. i know she enjoyed it and she remembers it. it was totally worth the money, and we are going back again next spring break. I wouldn't trade the memories for anything.

booty

It is fantastic but your youngest will not remember it also they are too young to go on the rides and so they get upset. I would not take a child under the age of at least 5 maybe even older if you really want to enjoy the whole experience.

basketcase88

I've been to Disney (I'm assuming that's where you're thinking about going) several times with my children. The first time we took our children they were 6 and 2. We took them again when they were 10 and 6, then 11 and 7, then 14 and 10. We did Disney Land this past year, they were 16 and 12. There's an advantage of taking them when they're younger, and it's still soooo magical to them, there's really nothing like a little kids eyes when they first SEE Disney World, and the giant "golf ball" at Epcot, and Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom. And Mickey Mouse, and the princesses, and whatever. It's really awesome. If you wait too long, your kids are jaded by life, and it's not as big of a deal to them. You're right, the 3 year old won't really remember it all that much, but will be in awe of the place. Your 8 year old will, of course remember it, but still might not be able to do many of the attractions solo, my son was only recently able to drive one of the race cars by himself, and he's now 12.

Is Disney World worth the money? I would say so, it's a great vacation experience! Is it expensive? You bet it is! There's ways you can get around it, but the major fixed expense is park admission, and that's expensive no matter how you slice it. I do think it would be a complete BLAST to do it with family members and cousins who are the same ages as your kids (or close), assuming you all get along well enough to vacation together. Disney is great for families simply because there is something for everyone, and if you stay on Disney property (which I would HIGHLY reccommend), you can use their transportation system which really makes it easy on you. Dad can take the older kids to the parks in the afternoon while Mom naps with the younger ones, and vice versa. There are many ways you can do Disney on a budget, they have value hotels that go for as low as $79 per night. Check out http://www.mousesavers.com/ this is a website that offers lots of good tips for saving money at Disney.

yeah well

i got taken... maybe around the age of 10 - im unsure.. remember nothing.. not a thing. nothing at all, nada. total waste of money.. i would have been just as happy, with a burger and fires and some ice cream everyday.. i love the guys that buy their babies label fashion gear too.....

kitkat

just because you cant remember something doesnt mean its a waste of money. your kid probably wont remember what clother he wore when he was three, so just put him in a burlap sack! you can have lots of memories as a family and lots of pictures that will be nice reminders. but if you feel pressured to go to fla, if you think its just societies expectation, dont go! march to your own beat, its your family

Keely M

I came back from there about a month ago and I would suggest not to take any small children under 5, the heat and humidity is bad enough for us adults let alone them. U really do want a holiday for the children to remember if you go.

tech_fanatic

It is true that your youngest isn't really going to remember the trip. But, this trip will be enjoyed most by you. Your oldest son is at the perfect age, old enough to remember the trip, but young enough to get the magic out of the vacation. You want to take a video camera and record everything, these will be memories you will cherish forever and will mean a lot to your kids later.

Your youngest is going to have a lot of things to enjoy, there is a ton of things for children under five. But again, he won't remember it. I think that when parents take children under 5, the trip is mostly for the parent. You will never forget him seeing Disney for the first time, or meeting Mickey Mouse and it won't be the same when he is a little older.

My parents took me to Disney several times before I really remember going, my brothers were older and could enjoy it, but I still had a blast as well. I would take your kids next year because it is the perfect time. If you wait until your youngest is a little older, than your older son isn't going to enjoy it as much as he will now. Take a video camera and you will make memories that will last a lifetime. But, in the end it is really up to you and what you feel is best for your family!

The benefit for your sister in law is that her youngest child won't have to pay for anything except a plane seat. So if she gets the dining plan, a hotel and tickets, the youngest child is free.

I hope this helps!

Xtal

It is MUCH better if your kids are older so they can ride more rides & actually remember it! I think maybe ages 5 & up should be ok because they are young enough to remember going & still ave an imaningation to love it.

dlil

Whenever I tell my parents about the next trip I have planned and they're like - you've already been there. I get so annoyed cause the first trip I really remember was Ireland when I was 11. Leave your kids with family and go away with your husband. They'll survive for a week and it'll refresh you both!

sarah c

When I was 8 or 9 my parents worked overtime and saved for a year to take us to Spain for 2 weeks at a cheap hotel. I really enjoyed it; but the money would have been better spent on other things, we were short of cash.
I also went to places like the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the zoo, and to be honest I got just as much pleasure out of those trips. Plus we could do that a couple of times a year, not just once.
Kids often get bored in hot beach resorts because all there is is sand and the sea, unless you have enough money to go to the theme parks more than once.

Skwerrll

It is fun, but you have to just realise that
1 it's kinda like taking you luggage with you all day
2 Your kids don't have the stanima you do to walk around all day for 18+ hours.

Phish

This Disneyland/Florida/Paris thing is a load of old rot and one-upmanship, and the sort of thing that parents with no imagination would do. Crap. A chavs holiday.

bbh

tell you when I get back going in November for 2 weeks

Wizzard2

Its the right of every kid to go to Disney- they expect it- go ahead.

Pastors Wife

I'm a FL resident. And to be truthfully honest my opinion is, Florida isn't the best place to bring your family, especially not when we're in active hurricane seasons. (There's one brewing now according to the news last night.)

A bunch of FL is still "under repair", there are some areas in FL where people have been exposed to some "unknown" virus that is actually killing people and hospitalizing many.

The news doesn't tell or show everything or even half:) There's lot's of parts of FL that haven't been fixed since Charlie. Lot's of the people are still without homes.

Sure- the theme parks and studio's, etc are nice. But truly it's not cheap to experience Disney. A lot of tourits think "disney great let's take the kids" and once they arrive, and get in and find out that you have to pay in order to access more parts of disney they look really...shocked.

As FL residents we get discounts and things like that (nothing major) to me it's not even worth mentioning because it's really only like a few bucks.

So here's my suggestion. If you are going to take your family, be sure to plan, plan, plan, and be sure to save more than enough so that your family can truly enjoy it if you are going to Disney, or the studio's, etc. Most importantly, be sure to check the weather for the time you are coming down.

Blessings To You & Yours

tweetymay

we took my son when he was 5, he doesn't remember much of it. However, my husband & I remember the look of excitement and wonder that we saw on his face many times during the trip-. (I am sure that had we waited until he could remember, he wouldn't have been so much in awe!)

now, on the other hand, in 2004, i went with my niece and her two daughters (age 2 & 4 at the time) , and they STILL talk about it, and can't wait to go back again. (which we are next month!)

So, I guess I am saying it is an individual decision. Disney World at any age is a wonderful experience. Last year 5 of us went, ages 24-59 and everyone had so much fun, we are going again this year!

favershambles

You can get pretty good deals on tickets, i'm english but moved to Florida a year ago. spain/greece is just as nice though, closer to UK and has some awesome theme and water parks. my parents never took us as kids to america, we used to go on camping hols to wales and hostels in the isle of wight!!!

olson_m80

Personally, I LOVE Orlando, Fl! I go every year with my husband. We have two small daughters, ages 2 and 3, which stay with one of our parents when we go. I am actually leaving for 8 days in 2 1/2 weeks!

As far as bringing my girls, I definitely want to, but not until my 2 year old is at least 5. There is just too much to do at the parks and it is $$$, so I want them both to be able to enjoy it.

I stay at a Worldmark timeshare resort at it still usually costs over $2000 for me and my husband to go for a week after airline, park tickets, food, and souvenirs. It may be spendy, but it is definitely worth it. I'm a big kid at heart!

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